Glide control means for drawers



Dec. 2, 1952 R. c. READ ETAL 2,620,253

GLIDE CONTROL MEANS FOR DRAWERS Fil ed May 20, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET l INVENTORS fkzw/z .1 6259-01? BY Boat-er c. P540 Dec. 2, 1952 R. c. READ ETAL 2,520,253

GLIDE CONTROL MEANS FOR DRAWERS Filed May 20, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTORJ RANK f glee-gaze Qoazer 6. E540 BY WZ-K KdQ Patented Dec. 2, 1952 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE Robert C. Read, Weston, and Frank J. Gregor, Wilton, Conn.

Application May 20, 1948, Serial No. 28,124

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to drawer guide means, and relates more particularly to an improved rack-and-pinion arrangement for assuring free gliding action and for preventing binding during movement of a drawer between open and closed positions and for allowing the drawer to be pushed in or pulled out at either front end with the same case of movement as at the center.

A chest of drawers constructed by a highlyskilled and painstaking cabinet maker employing expensive and well seasoned hardwoods will have more free drawer action than an inexpensive run-of-the-factory article made from soft wood or hardwoods lacking a desired measure of seasoning. Even the accurately constructed piece, however, frequently has some degree of binding, for the reason that the wood expands and contracts, and sufficient clearance must be provided for all conditions. Such being the case, binding action readily occurs unless the drawer is carefully moved to keep it parallel with its supporting tracks. In many instances binding occurs, regardless of the care used in moving the drawer for the reason that a drawer which is fitted too loosely tends to bind because of yaw whereas a drawer which is fitted too closely will bind because the wood swells during damp periods.

It is an object of the present invention to provide novel means whereby even the most loosely fitted drawer will have easy gliding, non-binding travel at all times. Another object of the invention is to provide a structure of this kind which can be quickly installed by a person of only limited skill, and wherein the results will necessarily be perfect if only a few simple directions are followed.

To this end, the invention includes a shaft provided at each end thereof with pinions which are arranged to revolve on bearing pins inserted in the sides of the desk, chest, bureau, commode, or other drawer support. Means are provided for preventing relative rotative movement between the shaft and the pinions, and such pinions engage raclrs carried by the underside of the'drawer. A very important factor in the invention is a simple tool which positively and accurately positions the pivot pins for the shaft and also the attachment holes for the racks. This tool also provides means for driving the pivot pins into the frame.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel method of cutting and assembling the various parts of the device to enable a workman to quickly apply the guide means to an existing article of furniture or to a new article during construction thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a broken front elevation of a chest of drawers embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a broken, horizontal section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a broken transverse section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a broken, longitudinal section taken on line i-l of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an exploded view of the drawer guiding means and the bearings for the same.

Fig. 6 is a similar exploded view showing the method of assembly.

Fig. 7 is a transverse section taken on line l-! of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a transverse section taken on line 8-3 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a transverse section taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 shows a plan view of the tool used for locating the holes for the bearing pins in the chest of drawers.

Fig. 11 is a broken elevation showing a further use of the tool.

0Fig. 12 is a section taken on line i2--I2 of Fig. 1

Fig. 13 is a broken perspective view showing a modified arrangement of the present invention.

Fig. 14 is a section taken through the modified pinion, the section being taken on line i i-l4 of Fig. 15.

Fig. 15 is a plan view of the gear.

Fig. 16 is a broken section showing a second modified form of gear.

In Fig. 1 there is illustrated a broken elevation of the front of a chest of drawers ID, of conventional construction, with one drawer removed. The end walls II are provided with opposed, flat slide members or tracks l2 upon which the drawer is mounted for sliding movement, the tracks being connected at their forward ends by a longitudinally disposed rail l3. The guiding means includes a shaft [4 which is illustrated as being of tubular construction and may be formed from metals which can be bent or crimped by the use of pliers.

A pinion I5 is mounted at each end of the shaft, the pinion gear having a non-circular shank portion [6 extending axially from one side thereof. The opposite end of the shank is preferably rounded or beveled to facilitate its entry into the shaft. The pinion is provided on its other side with a circular axial opening ll. At its lefthand end, when viewed as in Fig. l, the shaft is flattened, as shown at 2|, to cause it to conform to the external contour of shank portions I6 which been located in the manner are of generally elliptical or oval shape. Bearing means for the pinion comprise a pin having a bearing portion 22 at one end thereof, the opposite end being pointed, as shown at 23, to facilitate its being driven into track l2. A collar 24, preferably formed integrally with the bearing pin, limits inward movement of such pin into the track and also forms a thrust-bearing surface for pinion I5.

At its opposite end a similar pinion having a non-circular shank I6 is mounted within the shaft. This end of the shaft is similarly flattened, as shown at 25, to prevent relative rotative movement between the pinion and theshaft. Inward movement of the gear shank H5 at this end of the shaft is limited by a shoulder 26 formed by flattening the shaft in a plane generally at right angles to flattened section 25; It will be noted that the shaft is of a length lesser than the distance between the inner faces of the two pinions. which feature will be discussed when the manner of assembly is referred to.

The drawer 2? is of usual construction, with a front wall 28 carrying a handle 29. The drawer includes opposed end walls 38, the lower edge of which is indicated at 3!. The base wall'32 of the drawer is, as usual, spaced a short distance upwardly from such lower edges 3! of the side walls. A rack member 33 formed with teeth 34 is secured to the inner marginal edge 35 of eachend wall by means of pins 361;, the rack being so fitted that the teeth are slightly above the lower edge 3! of the end wall of the drawer.

The operation of the drawer guiding means is as follows:

The'drawer is arranged to move inwardly and outwardly on the upper surface of tracks I2. The outer peripheries of gears l5 etxend slightly above the upper surface of such tracks. Thus, when the drawer is inserted within the chest, the rack teeth engage the gears, and accordingly the drawer may be pushed from either end without any possibility of binding since the gears are mounted for conjoint rotative movement with shaft I4. This equalizing mechanism effectively prevents one side of the drawer moving in or out at any greater or lesser rate of speed than the other, regardless of where the drawer is pushed or pulled.

The method of assembling the drawer glide control of the presentinvention (after the'holes for the bearing pins and the holes for the screws or pins which support the rack members have hereinafter described) is as follows. The bearing pins 22 are first driven into the opposed side walls of tracks I2 in proper position. A'flat mandrel (not shown) of substantially the'same thickness as that of shank i6 and of such width as to readilyenter the round shaft is then placed within the lefthand end of shaft [4, and'the shaft compressed by the use of pliers or other means to form flattened section 2| which receives shank IS with a substantially snug flt.

The tubular shaft may now be cut to proper length, such length, as was pointed out, being less than the distance between opposed gears I5 by an amount very slightly greater than the length of one bearing pin from the collar 24 to its inner end. The opposite end of the shaft I4 is similarly flattened as shown at 25, by the use of the mandrel and pliers. The shanks of thegears l5 are then placed within the flattened tube terminals, the left-hand gear is slipped over its bearing pin. The gear shank at the right-hand end is then moved outwardly to cause the axial opening I! to receive its bearing pin. The shoulder 26 is now formed at this end of the shaft by compressing the shaft in a plane generally at right angles to the flattened portion 25 of the shaft. Thi prevents inward movement of the shank into the shaft.

The tool 35 for locating the holes for the gearing pins and racks is illustrated in Figs. 10 to 12 and may, if desired, be cast in a single piece. It includes an elongated shank 36 having a generally square recess 3'! extending the full length of one edge thereof. It further includes plural transverse projection 38 of generally triangular shape. Each end face 39 of the shank is provided with a pointed pin 40 and a hole 4| in the positions shown. The holes 42 for bearing pins 22 may first be formed and to this end the tool is placed upon rail I 3 connecting the opposed tracks I2, the rail being disposed in longitudinal recess 31. The rails thus acts as a guiding trackway for the tool.

The tool may first be moved to the left as shown in Fig. 11 and pin '48 contacts the inner surface of the track. While the tool is held in firm engagement with the rail a hammer may be employed to drive'pin 40 into the track to form 11016 42 y S g O e of the transverse projections 38. The opposite end of the tool may then be moved in the direction of the opposite trackand the operation repeated.

The tool may now be reversed as to position and the bearing pins placed within holes 4|. The tool is now again driven to the left and the bearing pin enters the preformed hole in the track and is driven'home. The operation is repeated with the opposite bearing pin.

The tool may now be used-to locate the holes for pins E ia which support the rack 35. The drawer is first turned upside down. The tool may be placed on the now upper edge of front'wall 28 of the drawer and pin 48 driven to form the opening for pin or screw 36. The tool is now driven in the opposite direction to form the hole in'the opposite end wall of the drawer. The tool is then placed upon the upperedge of the rear wall (not shown) and the operation repeated.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the entire glide control assembly may be accurately fitted and'installe'd in a few'minutes and that if reasonable care is taken, no mistake can occur.

In the modified arrangement of Figs. 13 to 16 the rack is formed as-an angle member with a vertical portion 41 and a 'horizontal portion 48 having spaced openings '49 forming the rack teeth. The rack may be formed from sheet metal blanked and punched to form openings 49 and screw holes '50 in a single operation. It may then bebent to the angular shape in a second operation and secured to the drawer as before. The shaft 5! in this instance may be formed from wood, metal or other material. The pinion 52 is stamped from sheet metal with gear teeth 53 and inwardly turned spaced ears 54. The pinions are mounted on the shaft 5| by means of headed pins 55 passing into the shaft holes in the ears. At its center the pinion is provided with an opening'5l aligned with an axial opening (not shown) in the shaft terminal to receive bearing pin 22. One end of the shaft is first assembled, the shaft 'then'cut to a length slightly less than the distance between the opposed inner faces of the pinions. The assembled end is then arranged'in place with bearing pin 22 in the shaft opening. The

other end of the shaft is then aligned with the opposite bearing pin, the pin moved into opening 51 in the gear and the ears secured as before to the shaft terminal.

In the form shown in Fig. 16 the pinion 50 is stamped from sheet metal to provide teeth GI and an axial opening 62 aligned with the axial opening '53 in shaft 64. A U-shaped bracket 65 is secured at its center to the gear by pins 66 or by welding and the opposed terminals of the bracket received by pins 6'! to the shaft. Bracket 65 may also be of tubular form and he slid onto the shaft.

The modified arrangements of Figs. 13 to 16 are quite satisfactory although of smaller cost than the first embodiment of the invention.

While three forms or embodiments of the invention have been shown and described herein for illustrative purposes, and the construction and arrangement to specific applications thereof have been disclosed and discussed in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is limited neither to the mere details or relative arrangement of parts, nor to its specific embodiments shown herein, but that extensive deviations from the illustrated forms or embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the principles thereof.

What we claim is:

In a cabinet having a drawer; a pair of racks carried by the drawers; a pair of tracks mounted in said cabinet for slidably engaging said drawer; a laterally-extending pin fixedly mounted at the forward end of each track; a glide control unit adapted to be rotatably mounted on and between said pins; said unit consisting of a shaft having hollow flattened ends, and a pair of pinions for engaging the racks and having flattened shanks on their facing sides received in said fiattened ends, the pinions having sockets on their outer sides for reception of the pins; said unit being of less length than the distance between said pins whereby it may be mounted on the pins by placing the unit therebetween, moving the pinions away from each other until the pins are received in the sockets, and crimping the shaft in place on the shanks.

ROBERT C. READ.

FRANK J. GREGOR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 327,104 Perry Sept. 29, 1885 591,134 Howard Oct. 5, 1897 657,809 Beebe Sept. 11, 1900 823,721 Garden June 19, 1906 924,054 Gehne June 8, 1909 2,468,990 Lundstrom May 3, 1949 2,485,067 Roberts Oct. 18, 1949 

